Iowa
Science Teaching Section
Iowa
Academy of Science
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The mission of the Iowa Science Teaching Section of the Iowa Academy of Science is to advocate for excellence in science education by promoting professionalism, influencing policy, and enhancing learning.
The mission of the Iowa Academy of Science is to further scientific research and its dissemination, education in the sciences, public understanding of science, and recognition of excellence in these endeavors.
We encourage all science teachers and individuals interested in improving science education to submit their activities and ideas to ISTJ. To ensure that articles appearing in the Journal have the greatest positive impact on improving teaching practices and student learning, the managing editor and editor will first review the manuscript for the following guidelines before deciding whether or not to send it to reviewers.
Guidelines
- Read the ISTJ Manuscript Review Form and ensure the manuscript addresses all relevant criteria;
- Include a 100-150 word abstract that clearly summarizes the manuscript, and explicitly states what National Science Education Content Standards and Iowa Teaching Standards are addressed in the manuscript for the targeted audience (Elementary, Middle School, or High School);
- If the manuscript is an instructional activity, clearly describe what the teacher must do during the activity for it to work (e.g., sample questions used to determine students’ prior knowledge and thinking, questions to help students connect ideas, use of wait time 1 and 2, responding to students’ ideas whether they are right or wrong, etc.);
- Explain misconceptions or struggles that students faced, and strategies used by the teacher to help students through these struggles;
- Clearly describe ALL safety issues, hazards and precautions that must be addressed (refer to NSTA Minimum Safety Guidelines at http://www.nsta.org/main/pdfs/440.pdf);
Formatting
- Your manuscript should not exceed 2,500 words. Longer manuscripts will likely be returned for revision without being reviewed;
- Tables, graphs, and charts should be appropriately labeled;
- SI (metric) units should be used throughout the article, unless an exception is granted by the Managing Editor;
- Bibliographies and resource lists should be alphabetized and limited to current, readily available items;
- Referencing must comply with APA formatting standards.
Author Information
Please copy the following questions, paste them at the end of your manuscript, and have each author provide answers to the following:
Personal Information
How would you like your named spelled in this article if it is published?
What e-mail address should we use to contact you during the review process?
What phone number may we use (if necessary) to contact you during the review process?
Biosketch Questions
Current teachers:
At what school do you currently teach?
How long have you taught here?
What subjects/programs do you teach?
What other teaching positions have you held, at what location, and for how long?
What recognitions/awards, if any, have you received for your teaching?
What science or science education organizations do you belong to?
What other articles, if any, have you had published or circulated?
What else might readers like to know about you relating to your work in education that we could include in your biosketch?
May we include your e-mail address within the article for readers who wish to write you with questions? If so, what e-mail address should be included?
Pre-service teachers/former teachers/non-teachers:
What are your current educational or professional activities?
Describe any past teaching duties.
What recognitions/awards, if any, have you received for your teaching?
What science or science education organizations do you belong to?
What other articles, if any, have you had published or circulated?
What else might readers like to know about you relating to your work in education that we could include in your biosketch?
May we include your e-mail address within the article for readers who wish to write you with questions? If so, what e-mail address should be included.
Graphics and Photographs
If photographs are submitted for inclusion with your manuscript,
students must be shown following appropriate safety guidelines and
wearing proper safety attire. A signed model release will be
required of each student pictured.
All graphics should be scanned and embedded in the document. When embedding a document, please only use low-resolution files (72 dpi). If we decide to use the images in print, we will contact you to obtain high-resolution (300 dpi) versions of the files.
If photographs are submitted for inclusion with your manuscript, all individuals must be shown following appropriate safety guidelines and wearing proper safety attire. A signed model release will be required of any individual whose face can be identified in a picture.
How to submit
Manuscripts should be submitted via email to the Managing Editor, Joe Taylor (joetay@iastate.edu). Submit your manuscript as a MS Word document. Save your file using your initials (e.g., Michael Oliver Lewis would be mol.doc), and do not include a cover sheet as part of the file. The Managing Editor will rename your file before sending to reviewers to keep authorship anonymous during the review process.
Copyright Policy
Copyright guidelines are currently being reviewed and will be e-mailed to you when available.
If you have any problems submitting a manuscript, contact the Managing Editor.
Joe Taylor, Managing Editor, joetay@iastate.edu
Mike Clough, Editor, mclough@iastate.edu
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